On Saturday, October 29, the cross country teams from Creative Technologies Academy concluded their racing schedule at the inaugural Michigan Independent High School Championships at Allendale High School. The meet featured schools from around the state and provided a venue for non-MHSAA schools to compete against each other.  The men’s team from CTA earned runner-up honors against tough competition from Grand Rapids Track Club, who won the meet, and narrowly defeated third place Kalamazoo Home School by one point.
The Chargers were led by sophomore Aaron Nutt (5th place) in a time of 17:57.  Also scoring for CTA were junior Jeremiah Wortz (19:23), freshman Benett Tomandl (19:49), seventh grader Brandon Beck (19:58), and senior Steve Van Enk (20:08).  “The boys decided before the gun that they were going to win a trophy today.  They immediately put themselves in position once the race started and never looked back.  I was very satisfied with the team performance,” remarked Coach Gerry Verwey.
CTA’s ladies team placed third at the meet.  Sophomore Erin Munger (20:35) won the race and was crowned “MIHS Champion.” Freshman Hannah Hubbard, sophomores Alicia Beck and Michaela Smith, and junior Grace Van Enk contributed in the scoring as well.
After experiencing their most successful season of cross country in their young four years of existence, the Chargers celebrated their accomplishments with a highly interactive and festive team banquet on November 9th.  The banquet featured a murder mystery dinner, in which each team member received a character and objectives to act out to solve an imaginary crime, all while partaking in a wonderfully fulfilling three-course feast provided by some of the parents.  The party also featured mock awards and photo highlights, complete with funny stories from the season.
“This was one of the most memorable seasons ever,” commented Verwey.  “These kids were a team from day one – from camp through to the end.  It was incredibly rewarding to see so many students set new lifetime personal bests throughout the season.  I can’t wait to see what we will do next year.”

When:  December 1, 2011
Time:  4-8 pm

McDonald’s is generously donating 15% of their total sales to Creative Technologies Academy on the above day and time to benefit the 4th and 5th grade students’ field trip to Mackinac Island.
You eat and the kids earn!

Valid only at the
Cedar Springs McDonald’s.
4141 17 Mile Road Northeast
Cedar Springs, MI 49319-9451
(616) 696-3150

*McDonald’s McTeacher’s Night Program provides an opportunity for local schools to raise funds. Friends and Families of the school are invited to visit McDonald’s at a designated time period. Thank you, McDonalds!

The Power Pack is a great way to save and support CTA students/area businesses.

Power Pack includes:
1. Magazine gift card
2. Value Card (14 merchants)
3. Key Chain Tags (2)

For 15 dollars, you can take advantage of great subscriptions and a year of various discounts! With its generous amount of savings, the Power Pack immediately pays for itself.

Order your POWER PACK TODAY!!!
Call April V. or Shawn S. at (616) 890-5869/ (616)881-8045

CTA was chosen as one of three charter schools to participate in the Champion Reader Team Workshop sponsored by the Comprehensive Therapy Center in Grand Rapids, to promote literacy skills for K-2 students and their families.  Three literacy activity meetings were scheduled over September, October and November with each grade having their own night.
The students and their families were served a delicious dinner while listening to an exciting story read by one of the presenters – primarily retired teachers.  After the meal, families were split into separate groups to participate in fun literacy activities, all designed to help parents promote literacy skills at home.  At the end of the evening, each family received a free book.
Feedback has been positive, with parents reporting that students are using the strategies they learned!  Our thanks to the Comprehensive Therapy Center for the grant that made these workshops possible.

November
16-17     Boys Basketball Tryouts
17           CTA Board Meeting
17-18     Girls Basketball Tryouts
22          End of 1st Trimester
23-25    No School for Students and Staff

December
16          Last Day before Winter Break
19-Jan. 02    No School for Students and Staff – Winter Break

January
03         Classes Resume

Creative Technologies Academy’s class of 2013 hosted this year’s Sweetest Day Sweetheart Swirl, Carnival Nights, October 15.  Sweethearts and Heartbreakers from the left are: Seniors: Robert “RJ” Whitlatch and Hope Taber, Juniors: Austin Armstrong and Grace VanEnk, Sophomores: Aaron Nutt and Cassie Kibitz, Freshmen: Benett Tomandl and Olivia Wortz.

Boys finish 13th out of 40; two runners earn all-state honors

The CTA girls cross country team took second place in Class “D” Cross Country Coaches Association Championships last Saturday. Standing (L to R): Coach Aaron Kenemer, Dani George, Esther Hubbard, Olivia Wortz, Grace VanEnk, Alicia Beck, Mikayla Tomandl, Hannah Hubbard, Coach Gerry Verwey. Kneeling (L to R): Michaela Smith, Erin Munger.

Going into Saturday’s Class “D” Cross Country Coaches Association Championships, the cross country teams at Creative Technologies Academy had one goal in mind: a top-10 finish. The Lady Chargers stepped onto Maple Creek Golf Course in Shepherd, Michigan and blew that goal away, earning an exciting runner-up trophy in a race that featured 34 schools. CTA’s previous highest place at the state championships was a 12th place finish last year. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart took home the first place title in both the girls and boys events.
CTA’s coaches attributed this year’s success to a dedicated group of runners who understood the importance of running as a team. “The key to our success was pack running,” commented head coach Gerry Verwey. “About half-way through the season we were able to get our 2nd-5th runners to link up and start training and racing as a group.  Not only did this improve the quality of our practices, but our times as a whole began dropping, and our team scores at meets began improving as a result.”
It wasn’t just the pack of Chargers that made the difference. Sophomore Erin Munger continued to lead CTA, as she has all season, with a new personal record of 20:09, breaking her previous school record mark. Her fifth place finish earned her “All-State” honors and was significant to outdistancing CTA from the third through fifth place teams.  Alicia Beck (22:25), Grace VanEnk (22:30), Michaela Smith (22:41), and Hannah Hubbard (22:42) rounded out the scoring for the Chargers.  Also turning in solid runs were Dani George and Mikayla Tomandl.  “Dani and Mikayla were aware at the start that any chances of placing well might come down to our 6th and 7th runners.  They brought their best races ever to help secure our trophy,” added Verwey.
How well they placed surprised even Verwey. “This was an awesome day for CTA.  I have to admit that I didn’t believe the girls when they first told me the team scores. I knew we ran well, but the thought of winning a trophy at State hadn’t ever crossed my mind. We had two goals left this season: winning a trophy and a top-ten placing at State. I didn’t expect us to achieve both at the same time,” he explained.
The performance of a boys team that placed 13th out of 40 schools should not go over looked either. Sophomore Aaron Nutt smashed the school record, leading the team with a time of 17:36, and placing high enough to earn “All-State” honors.  Jeremiah Wortz (18:34), Benett Tomandl (18:56), Steve VanEnk (19:17), and Venus Ceballos (20:37) all stepped up at a time when the Chargers needed them most. “The boys ran their hearts out,” according to assistant coach Aaron Kenemer.  “They knew what needed to be done and left it all on the course.  It was great to see the aggressiveness, especially in the last mile of the race.”
Verwey is happy with the results of both teams. “We as coaches are so incredibly proud of both the girls and boys teams.  They’ve been working hard since August and learned that good things don’t come easily, but when they do, it’s worth the work!”
CTA will conclude its season at the Michigan Independent High School Championships in Allendale next Saturday, October 29.

Creative Technologies Academy

Parent/Superintendent Town Hall Meeting

Monday, October 24
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• CTA’s grading system changes
• K-8 Literacy Focus/Differentiation
• New Math Curriculum in Grades 6-12
• High School Transition to the Common Core
• Legislative Contacts
• Questions and Answers

October
11-27    MEAP Testing
13    CTA Board Meeting
14    XC – Montabella Invitational
15    Sweetest Day Swirl
22    XC – State Meet
24    Parent/Superintendent Town         Meeting
25-27    EL & MS Parent Teacher             Conferences (by appointment)
27    HS Parent Teacher Conferences           3-7 pm
28    No School for Students or Staff

November
14    No School for Students /Teacher         Professional Development
17    CTA Board Meeting

On Saturday, September 10, the cross country teams from Creative Technologies Academy competed at the Fremont Hill and Bale Invitational. This unique race challenged the Chargers with not just the typical 5K course, but also with numerous hay bale obstacles to hurdle during the event. When asked about the meet, head coach Gerry Verwey said, “This was a great opportunity to not only race against solid competition, but to have a little fun doing it too.”
Sixth grader Dawson Armstrong led off for CTA in the first race of the morning.  He showed his teammate how to run the course with an impressive run, earning the first medal of the day for the Chargers.
CTA’s varsity girls team flexed its muscle next with an exciting third place finish, just behind the strong programs of Hesperia and Manistee.  Erin Munger was first across the line for the Lady Chargers in a time of 21:18.  Freshman Hannah Hubbard and sophomore Alicia Beck finished twenty seconds apart in the second and third scoring positions. Grace Van Enk and Michaela Smith continued their impressive early season performances, rounding out the scoring for CTA.  Olivia Wortz continued her push for varsity status with a wonderful JV performance as well.
Jeremiah Wortz led the varsity boys to a sixth place finish.  Along with Austin Armstrong, Benett Tomandl, and Steve Van Enk, the Chargers had an impressive pack finish relatively close together, helping the team score.  Freshman Hunter George and Junior Matt Hoskins took the fifth and sixth spots for CTA.
Throughout the day, Coach Verwey was thrilled with the efforts turned in by many of his runners. The middle school runners were no exception.  Brandon Beck completed the 1.5 mile course in a time of 12:25, placing 16th in a race that was combined with many big schools, such as Spring Lake, Fruitport, and North Muskegon. Destiny Huekels was the first middle school girl across the line, racing in her first ever cross country meet.
This Wednesday, the Chargers will run at Tri County in a dual meet, and then will participate in the Sparta Invite on Saturday.